100 FOODS THAT START WITH THE LETTER P (WITH IMAGES)

Welcome to our comprehensive guide, “100 Foods That Start with the Letter P.” Whether you’re a culinary enthusiast looking to expand your ingredient repertoire, a food blogger seeking inspiration for your next post, or simply curious about the diverse array of foods beginning with the letter P, this list is for you.

1. Paella

2. Pancakes

3. Pancetta

4. Paneer

5. Panettone

6. Panini

7. Papaya

8. Paprika

9. Parfait

10. Parmesan cheese

11. Parsley

12. Parsnip

13. Passion fruit

14. Pasta

15. Pasta salad

16. Pastrami

17. Pate

18. Pâté choux

19. Pav bhaji

20. Pavlova

21. Peach cobbler

22. Peaches

23. Peanut butter

24. Peanut sauce

25. Peanuts

No	Name	Type	Origin	Use	Taste	Vegan	Fun Fact
1	Paella	Main Dish	Spain	Dinner	Savory	No	Traditional Spanish rice dish originally from Valencia.
2	Pancakes	Breakfast	Global	Breakfast	Sweet	Yes	Often served with syrup, berries, or butter.
3	Pancetta	Meat	Italy	Pasta, sandwiches	Salty, rich	No	Italian cured pork belly, like unsmoked bacon.
4	Paneer	Cheese	India	Main dishes	Mild	No	Fresh, non-melting cheese used in many Indian dishes.
5	Panettone	Dessert Bread	Italy	Christmas dessert	Sweet	No	A fluffy, fruit-studded Italian holiday bread.
6	Panini	Sandwich	Italy	Lunch	Savory	Varies	Grilled sandwich often made with ciabatta or focaccia.
7	Papaya	Fruit	Central America	Fresh, smoothies	Sweet, musky	Yes	Rich in papain enzyme that aids digestion.
8	Paprika	Spice	Hungary/Spain	Seasoning	Sweet to spicy	Yes	Made from ground red peppers.
9	Parfait	Dessert	France	Dessert/snack	Sweet	Varies	Layered dessert of yogurt, fruit, and granola or cream.
10	Parmesan cheese	Cheese	Italy	Pasta, salads	Salty, nutty	No	Also known as Parmigiano-Reggiano, aged over 12 months.
11	Parsley	Herb	Mediterranean	Garnish, seasoning	Fresh, slightly bitter	Yes	Flat-leaf and curly varieties used worldwide.
12	Parsnip	Vegetable	Europe	Soups, roasting	Sweet, nutty	Yes	Tastes sweeter after frost exposure.
13	Passion fruit	Fruit	South America	Juices, desserts	Tangy, tropical	Yes	Known for its aromatic pulp and edible seeds.
14	Pasta	Staple	Italy	Main dish	Neutral	Yes	Comes in hundreds of shapes and varieties.
15	Pasta salad	Salad	USA	Side dish	Tangy, creamy	Varies	Often served cold with mayo or vinaigrette.
16	Pastrami	Meat	Romania/USA	Sandwiches	Smoky, spicy	No	Beef brisket cured and smoked, popular in NYC delis.
17	Pate	Spread	France	Appetizer	Rich, savory	No	Ground meat and fat cooked into a smooth paste.
18	Pâté choux	Dough	France	Pastries	Neutral	No	Used to make eclairs, profiteroles, and cream puffs.
19	Pav bhaji	Street Food	India	Snack/Meal	Spicy, buttery	Yes	Mashed spicy vegetables served with buttered bread rolls.
20	Pavlova	Dessert	Australia/New Zealand	Dessert	Sweet, airy	No	Meringue-based dessert named after a ballerina.
21	Peach cobbler	Dessert	USA	Dessert	Sweet, fruity	No	Southern favorite with baked peaches and crust.
22	Peaches	Fruit	China	Fresh, desserts	Sweet, juicy	Yes	Symbol of longevity in Chinese culture.
23	Peanut butter	Spread	USA	Snacks, sandwiches	Nutty, creamy	Yes	First patented by a Canadian in 1884.
24	Peanut sauce	Sauce	Southeast Asia	Dipping, stir-fries	Nutty, spicy	Yes	Popular in Indonesian and Thai cuisine.
25	Peanuts	Legume	South America	Snacks, butter	Nutty	Yes	Botanically legumes, not actual nuts.

26. Pear tart

27. Pears

28. Peas

29. Pecan pie

30. Pecans

31. Peking duck

32. Pelmeni

33. Penne pasta

34. Pepper

35. Pepperoni

36. Perch

37. Pesto

38. Pesto sauce

39. Pho

40. Piccata

41. Pickled cucumbers

42. Pickled herring

43. Pickles

44. Pico de gallo

45. Pie

46. Pie crust

47. Pilaf

48. Pimiento

49. Pine nuts

50. Pineapple

No	Name	Type	Origin	Use	Taste	Vegan	Fun Fact
26	Pear tart	Dessert	France	Dessert	Sweet	No	French-style tart with sliced pears and pastry crust.
27	Pears	Fruit	Europe/Asia	Fresh, baking	Sweet, juicy	Yes	Pears ripen best off the tree after harvesting.
28	Peas	Vegetable	Mediterranean	Soups, sides	Sweet, earthy	Yes	Peas are one of the earliest cultivated crops.
29	Pecan pie	Dessert	USA (South)	Dessert	Sweet, nutty	No	Classic Southern pie with sugar, pecans, and syrup.
30	Pecans	Nut	North America	Baking, snacking	Rich, buttery	Yes	Pecans are native to the southern U.S. and Mexico.
31	Peking duck	Main Dish	China	Special occasions	Savory, crispy	No	Known for its crispy skin and served with pancakes.
32	Pelmeni	Dumpling	Russia	Main dish	Savory	No	Filled with meat and served with sour cream or butter.
33	Penne pasta	Pasta	Italy	Main dish	Neutral	Yes	Cylindrical shape great for capturing sauces.
34	Pepper	Spice/Vegetable	India/South America	Seasoning	Spicy or sweet	Yes	Includes both black peppercorns and bell peppers.
35	Pepperoni	Meat	USA (Italian-American)	Pizza topping	Spicy, salty	No	Popular American topping not common in Italy.
36	Perch	Fish	Northern Hemisphere	Grilling, frying	Mild	No	Common freshwater fish in Europe and North America.
37	Pesto	Sauce	Italy	Pasta, sandwiches	Herby, nutty	Yes	Traditionally made with basil, garlic, pine nuts, cheese, and olive oil.
38	Pesto sauce	Sauce	Italy	Pasta, pizza	Garlicky, fresh	Yes	Can also be made with arugula or spinach as variations.
39	Pho	Soup	Vietnam	Main dish	Savory, aromatic	No	Vietnamese noodle soup with herbs, broth, and meat.
40	Piccata	Main Dish	Italy	Dinner	Lemony, savory	No	Often made with chicken or veal in lemon-butter sauce.
41	Pickled cucumbers	Preserved Veg	Eastern Europe	Side, condiment	Sour	Yes	Known as “gherkins” in the UK.
42	Pickled herring	Fish	Scandinavia	Appetizer	Sour, salty	No	Popular in Nordic and Eastern European cuisine.
43	Pickles	Preserved Food	Global	Snack, garnish	Tangy, sour	Yes	Pickling is one of the oldest food preservation methods.
44	Pico de gallo	Salsa	Mexico	Dip, topping	Fresh, spicy	Yes	Also known as salsa fresca; made with raw ingredients.
45	Pie	Dessert	Global	Dessert, savory	Sweet or savory	Varies	Can be filled with fruits, meats, or custards.
46	Pie crust	Pastry	Global	Baking	Neutral	Yes	Made from flour, fat, and water; flaky when done right.
47	Pilaf	Grain Dish	Middle East	Main or side	Spiced, savory	Yes	Rice or bulgur cooked in seasoned broth.
48	Pimiento	Vegetable	Spain	Stuffing, garnish	Sweet	Yes	Commonly found in stuffed olives and cheese spreads.
49	Pine nuts	Nut	Europe/Asia	Pesto, salads	Buttery, rich	Yes	Harvested from pine cones, labor-intensive process.
50	Pineapple	Fruit	South America	Fresh, grilled	Sweet, tart	Yes	Symbol of hospitality and tropical living.

51. Pinto beans

52. Pistachios

53. Pita bread

54. Pita chips

55. Pizza

56. Pizza dough

57. Plantains

58. Plum

59. Plum cake

60. Po’ boy sandwich

61. Poblano peppers

62. Polenta

63. Pollock

64. Pomegranate

65. Pomelo

66. Popcorn

67. Poppy seeds

68. Pork

69. Porridge

70. Portabella mushrooms

71. Porterhouse steak

72. Portuguese tart

73. Potato chips

74. Potato salad

75. Potato soup

No	Name	Type	Origin	Use	Taste	Vegan	Fun Fact
51	Pinto beans	Legume	Mexico	Soups, stews	Earthy	Yes	Commonly used in refried beans and chili.
52	Pistachios	Nut	Middle East	Snacking, desserts	Buttery, slightly sweet	Yes	They’re one of the oldest flowering nut trees.
53	Pita bread	Bread	Middle East	Sandwiches, dips	Neutral	Yes	Pita pockets puff from steam during baking.
54	Pita chips	Snack	Middle East (modern)	Snacking	Crunchy, savory	Yes	Often baked from leftover pita bread.
55	Pizza	Main Dish	Italy	Meal	Varies	No	Modern pizza was invented in Naples in the 18th century.
56	Pizza dough	Dough	Italy	Baking	Neutral	Yes	Basic mix of flour, yeast, water, and salt.
57	Plantains	Fruit (Starchy)	Central America	Fried, boiled	Starchy, mildly sweet	Yes	Plantains must be cooked before eating.
58	Plum	Fruit	Europe/Asia	Fresh, jams	Sweet or tart	Yes	Over 2,000 varieties of plums exist worldwide.
59	Plum cake	Dessert	UK/India	Baking	Sweet	No	Often made during Christmas, sometimes with rum-soaked fruit.
60	Po’ boy sandwich	Sandwich	USA (Louisiana)	Lunch	Savory	No	Filled with fried seafood or roast beef, served on French bread.
61	Poblano peppers	Vegetable	Mexico	Stuffed, roasted	Mildly spicy	Yes	When dried, they’re called ancho chiles.
62	Polenta	Grain Dish	Italy	Side or main	Neutral, creamy	Yes	Made from boiled cornmeal; can be soft or baked.
63	Pollock	Fish	North Atlantic	Fried, filleted	Mild	No	Main ingredient in imitation crab (surimi).
64	Pomegranate	Fruit	Iran to North India	Fresh, juiced	Sweet, tart	Yes	Filled with juicy seeds called arils.
65	Pomelo	Fruit	Southeast Asia	Fresh	Mildly sweet	Yes	The largest citrus fruit in the world.
66	Popcorn	Snack	Mexico	Snacking	Buttery or salted	Yes	Popcorn kernels explode from moisture inside.
67	Poppy seeds	Seed/Spice	Eastern Mediterranean	Baking	Nuttiness	Yes	Contain tiny amounts of opiates, but are legal and safe in food.
68	Pork	Meat	Global	Main dishes	Savory	No	Pork is the most widely consumed meat globally.
69	Porridge	Breakfast	Europe	Breakfast	Neutral	Yes	Made with oats, rice, or other grains cooked in water/milk.
70	Portabella mushrooms	Fungi	Europe/USA	Grilled, stuffed	Earthy, meaty	Yes	Mature form of cremini mushrooms.
71	Porterhouse steak	Meat	USA	Main course	Rich, beefy	No	Combines tenderloin and strip steak in one cut.
72	Portuguese tart	Dessert	Portugal	Dessert	Sweet, custardy	No	Known as “pastel de nata,” with flaky crust and creamy filling.
73	Potato chips	Snack	USA	Snacking	Salty, crispy	Yes	Legend says they were invented in 1853 by George Crum.
74	Potato salad	Salad	Germany	Side dish	Tangy, creamy	Yes	Mayonnaise or vinegar-based, depending on the region.
75	Potato soup	Soup	Europe	Lunch, dinner	Rich, creamy	Yes	Can be vegan if made with vegetable stock and non-dairy cream.

76. Potatoes

77. Poultry

78. Prawns

79. Pretzels

80. Prime rib

81. Prosciutto

82. Protein bars

83. Provolone cheese

84. Prune juice

85. Prunes

86. Pudding

87. Pudding pops

88. Puff pastry

89. Pulao

90. Pulled pork

91. Pumpernickel bread

92. Pumpkin

93. Pumpkin bread

94. Pumpkin seeds

95. Pumpkin soup

96. Punch

97. Pupusas

98. Purée

99. Purple cabbage

100. Puy lentils

No	Name	Type	Origin	Use	Taste	Vegan	Fun Fact
76	Potatoes	Vegetable	South America	Fries, mashed, roasted	Starchy	Yes	Over 4,000 varieties of potatoes exist.
77	Poultry	Meat	Global	Main dish	Savory	No	Includes chicken, turkey, duck, and more.
78	Prawns	Seafood	Global	Grilled, stir-fried	Sweet, delicate	No	Often confused with shrimp, but usually larger.
79	Pretzels	Snack	Germany	Snack, dip	Salty	Yes	The twisted shape symbolizes arms in prayer.
80	Prime rib	Meat	USA	Main course	Juicy, savory	No	A luxurious cut from the rib section of beef.
81	Prosciutto	Cured Meat	Italy	Charcuterie, sandwiches	Salty, delicate	No	Dry-cured for up to 18 months.
82	Protein bars	Snack	Modern/Global	On-the-go	Varies	Depends	Originally designed for athletes and dieters.
83	Provolone cheese	Cheese	Italy	Sandwiches, melted	Mild to sharp	No	Aged provolone develops a sharper flavor.
84	Prune juice	Beverage	USA	Drinking	Sweet, tangy	Yes	Popular for digestive health.
85	Prunes	Dried Fruit	Europe	Snacks, desserts	Sweet	Yes	Prunes are just dried plums.
86	Pudding	Dessert	UK/USA	Dessert	Sweet	No	Pudding in the UK often refers to steamed cakes.
87	Pudding pops	Dessert	USA	Frozen treat	Sweet	No	A popular 80s frozen snack revived by nostalgia.
88	Puff pastry	Pastry	France	Baking	Buttery	No	Made by layering dough and butter multiple times.
89	Pulao	Rice Dish	India	Main or side dish	Spiced	Yes	Often made with veggies or meat for festive meals.
90	Pulled pork	Meat	USA (Southern)	Sandwiches, platters	Smoky, savory	No	Slow-cooked to become fork-tender.
91	Pumpernickel bread	Bread	Germany	Sandwiches	Earthy, slightly sweet	Yes	Traditionally made with coarsely ground rye.
92	Pumpkin	Vegetable	North America	Soups, pies	Slightly sweet	Yes	Pumpkins are technically a fruit!
93	Pumpkin bread	Bread	USA	Dessert/snack	Spiced, sweet	No	Popular in fall, often spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg.
94	Pumpkin seeds	Seed/Snack	Mexico	Roasted, snacking	Nutty	Yes	Also known as “pepitas.”
95	Pumpkin soup	Soup	Europe	Starter	Creamy, mild	Yes	Often includes cream and spices for warmth.
96	Punch	Beverage	India (originally)	Party drink	Fruity	Yes	The word “punch” comes from the Hindi word “panch” (five).
97	Pupusas	Main Dish	El Salvador	Stuffed tortilla	Cheesy, savory	No	Often filled with beans, cheese, and pork.
98	Purée	Texture/Form	Global	Soups, sauces	Varies	Depends	Common method to soften or blend foods smoothly.
99	Purple cabbage	Vegetable	Europe	Salads, stir-fries	Crunchy, peppery	Yes	Color changes based on pH of soil or vinegar!
100	Puy lentils	Legume	France	Salads, sides	Earthy, nutty	Yes	Famous for their firm texture and dark green color.